Wilson: I will be Barnsley manager next season

Only a 'catastrophic' last nine matches will stop Danny Wilson being Barnsley manager next season, according to senior figures at Oakwell.

Wilson said yesterday that he expects to be manager next season whether or not the Reds suffer relegation to League One.

The board has backed the manager to rearrange his coaching staff this week with Chris Hutchings and Mark Crossley coming in as assistant manager and goalkeeper coach respectively in place of the sacked Micky Mellon and Ian Willcock.

There has been no official statement from the club but the Chronicle understands that only a terrible set of results from now until the end of the season would put Wilson out of a job.

The manager, whose contract length has not been revealed, has won four out of 17 leagues games since returning to the Reds for a second spell as manager in December but the crucial victory at Reading on Tuesday moved them off the bottom and kept them just three points adrift of safety.

Asked on Thursday if he would be at Barnsley next season, Wilson said: "Yes."

He added: "The board has backed me long-term and I am delighted about that. I have enjoyed every minute since I have come back and we're going to build the club back up to where we want it to be.

"It may take time but I promise we will get there. I am very much looking forward to the long-term plan but we have a job to do this season first. It will be a big test for us to stay up but, if we do, it will be fantastic."